IRP US

8th Grade Independent Research Project
U.S. Report - Comparing Global RegionsUnited States History ~ 2015-2016Mr. Hall & Ms. Russac
Ms. Russac's e-mail: prussac@buckleycountryday.com
Mr. Hall's e-mail: mhall@buckleycountryday.com

Project Topic Due Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2016Thesis Statement Due Date: Friday, May 13, 2016Final Paper Due Date: Monday, May 23, 2016

Overview

As a conclusion to their two-year study of history, eighth-graders will write a research paper connecting the United States to the global community. They will use their IRP World news event to find a similar subject in U.S. history, past or present, that continues the theme of "change." They will spend three weeks researching and comparing the two topics in a well-written, three-page paper, complete with a thesis statement and a Works Cited page.

Requirements of Written Paper

• A U.S. history paper topic, chosen in consultation with Mr. Hall & a group brainstorm, posted to the collaborative Google Doc by Wednesday, May 4, 2016
• A thesis statement (written in the complex-compound style) posted to the collaborative Google Doc by Friday, May 13, 2016
• At least 3 typed pages (not including the Works Cited page), printed (not emailed) and handed in at the beginning of class on Monday, May 23, 2016
• A Works Cited page, with full citation of all research sources according to the Buckley Style Manual
• Typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, standard 1 - 1 1/2 inch margins
• At least 3 sources (print or Internet) to join the previous sources from the oral presentation (for a total of at least 6 sources)

• Homework: Self-scheduled by each student individually, using the suggested work plan (see below)
• Research notes: All notes taken on Research Journals, printed (not emailed) and handed in with the final paper (see below)

Notes

• All research notes must be recorded on Research Journals
• All research notes must be printed and turned in with the final paper
• Every fact in the written paper must appear somewhere in the research notes, to avoid possible plagiarism. Nothing should be copied from the Internet.

Works Cited and Sources

• Take notes from respected books or Internet sources
• Record all sources using Citation Machine, EasyBib, another online bibliography resource, or Research Journals
• Write a full Works Cited page, following the Buckley Style Manual, that includes the 3 new U.S. research sources and the former World research sources (for a total of at least 6 sources). You may include your image sources from your World presentation as well, but they are not required.

Suggested Calendar

• First 3 days: After choosing a topic on Wednesday, May 4, 2016, reading sources and take notes for research. Then write a thesis statement and post it to the collaborative Google Doc by no later than Friday, May 13, 2016.
• Following two weeks: Write paper (including suggested outline and rough draft), for a due date of Monday, May 23, 2016.
• If a student is absent from school on Monday, May 23, 2016, the paper should be emailed to Mr. Hall by class time on that day.

Writing the Paper

Your paper will compare or contrast your world event with a topic from U.S. history. You will analyze how the two topics are similar or different. Here are some suggestions for how to organize your essay:

Thesis Statement
The thesis statement should include both of the topics and should make the comparison obvious.

"Similar" examples:

• "Just as the H1N1 flu virus today threatens Mexican society, the yellow fever epidemic in the United States altered health standards in the 1700s, because new policies improved sanitation and infection."
• "Although the time periods differ, the forced evacuation of Native Americans and the bloody exodus of Darfur refugees both focus on the same power struggles, because they center on fights over land and regional influence."

"Different" examples:

• "In contrast to the suppression of religious freedom in Tibet, the Great Awakening in the United States saw a peaceful flourishing of spiritual options, because new leaders and writings spread an appealing progressive message."
• "Unlike the devastating tsunami in Thailand, the west coast of the United States has experienced very little massive flooding, because the earthquakes and erosion have been predicted with advanced technologies."

Both "Similar" AND "Different" examples:

• "While the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and the recent Australian wildfires both started from careless causes, the two disasters were unique in the government's response to each tragedy, because laws provided for monetary relief in one area but denied aid in the other case."
• "Although widespread child labor in Yemen arose from different cultural factors than America's child labor epidemic, both social problems were addressed with strict standards, because urban activists were successful in enforcing safety in the workplace."

Paragraph Organization
In your paragraphs, you might choose first to write about your global topic and then to address the United States:

• Introduction, Global P1, Global P2, Global P3, U.S. P1, U.S. P2, U.S. P3, Conclusion

Or you might prefer to interlace the paragraphs to make the connection clear:

• Introduction, Global P1, U.S. P1, Global P2, U.S. P2, Global P3, U.S. P3, Conclusion

No matter how you plan your paper, the paragraphs and the conclusion must reinforce the two ideas and explain the relationship. They should offer insights into the effects on both regions and on the changes in the United States and the world. It is recommended, but not required, that you write an outline and a rough draft to organize and polish your final paper.

Grading

This written paper will count as a test grade. Please read over the grading rubric to make sure that you understand the criteria.